‘I know how much you’ve let it affect you. There’s a difference.’ He suddenly changed tack. ‘Honey, all I’m saying is that if you got to know Imogen now, as adults, I think you’d probably get on. Do you honestly think I’d have let Poppy go round there if I didn’t think Imogen was okay? Besides, I could hardly say no. Poppy thought the world of Benji and she wanted to hang out with him. I didn’t really have a choice. Now you’re making me feel terrible for being a good dad.’

Julia dropped her head, unwilling to let him see her cry. All this anger and hurt she’d carried around for years – was she being pathetic? She heard footsteps on the tiled floor, then felt her husband’s arms curl around her waist. She exhaled with relief as she buried her face in his chest.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be so harsh,’ said Ewan, gently kissing the top of her head.

She hesitated before speaking again, unsure how he’d react to what she had to say. But it had been playing on her mind and since he’d raised the subject, she needed to know how much it had crossed his too.

‘What happened with me back then, with Poppy . . . Do you think I should tell the police?’

Her voice was muffled where she was pressed against his shirt and she wasn’t sure if he’d heard her properly. But after a few seconds he replied.

‘I was wondering when you’d ask,’ he said, his voice hoarse.

They disentangled themselves in silence, then sat down at the table.

‘Should I?’ she asked.

‘I’ve been thinking about it a lot and I think you shouldn’t, because I’m worried the police might see it as an admission, that we think Poppy did push Benji off that wall.’

‘But you said it might be the same –’

He took her hand in his and with his thumb stroked her palm. Unlike the previous evening, this time she found his touch a comfort.

‘I’m sorry, darling. I was lashing out because I was angry. I don’t think it’s the same. But you shouldn’t have grabbed Poppy in the cafe,’ he admonished.

‘I know, and I’m so sorry.’

‘The police may find out anyway if they dig hard enough.’

‘It happened eight years ago, though,’ said Julia worriedly. ‘They wouldn’t think it was connected, surely?’

‘What if they do?’

She could hardly believe what she was hearing. She had expected Ewan to dismiss the thought out of hand and tell her she was being silly. The last thing she anticipated was for him to give weight to it.

‘Look, we know our daughter is innocent, but if anyone knew what she’d been exposed to, they might think otherwise. I mean, given the similarities . . .’